THIS is the terrifying moment a monster shark, believed to be more than 30ft long, is spotted off the British Isles.
Footage shows the giant sea creature at the surface, thrashing its tail in dramatic scenes and sending jaws dropping among stunned onlookers.
The shark was spotted patrolling off British Isles. Credit: Jam Press/North West Charters
The shark was spotted alongside others off Aranmore Island in County Donegal Credit: Jam Press/North West Charters
Another clip showed its dorsal fin slicing through the water in classic Jaws style, sparking fears of a deadly predator.
But despite its terrifying appearance, the huge fish turned out to be a harmless basking shark, as reported by creatorzine.com.
The beast was spotted alongside others off Aranmore Island in County Donegal.
Skipper John Paul Baska of Northwest Charters had a family on board his boat when the giant emerged.
Basking sharks can be found swimming alone or in small groups Credit: Jam Press/North West Charters
Skipper John Paul Baska had a family on board his boat when the giant emerged Credit: Jam Press/North West Charters
He said: “It was big, maybe 35-feet-long.
“I have seen bigger ones.
“But the family of five who were on the charter were impressed.
“There was plenty of plankton for the to feed on.
“And great fishing too.”
The huge fish turned out to be a harmless basking shark Credit: Jam Press/North West Charters
The shark was filmed at the surface, thrashing its tail in dramatic scenes Credit: Jam Press/North West Charters
The basking shark is the second-largest fish in the world, beaten only by the whale shark.
It is one of just three plankton-eating sharks, alongside the whale shark and the rare megamouth shark.
These giants can be found alone or in small groups.
Despite their size and fearsome look, they pose no danger to humans.
Grey-brown adults grow to an average of 20-26ft and weigh five tons but they can be much bigger.
The largest accurately measured was caught in in 1851 and weighed 16 tons.
It was 40.3ft (12.27m) long.
Specimens longer than 33ft are rarely seen these days because over-fishing has reduced their numbers.
Basking sharks have enormous mouths more than three feet wide, with jaws that stretch open as they feed in shallow waters close to shore.
Their babies are huge as well. They are born, measuring five or six feet long, after a gestation thought to last from one to three years.
They are a protected red list species, considered vulnerable worldwide and endangered in the North East Atlantic.
Basking sharks migrate here every and are found all round the British Isles from the to the far north of Scotland.
They are mostly solitary but have been seen gathering in the Hebrides.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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